Facile synthesis of arylmaleic acids and anhydrides

摘要

A process for making acrylmaleic acid and arylmaleic anhydride derivative useful as intermediates for the preparation of arylmaleimides in the synthesis of compounds having activity in the central nervous system. The process involves reacting arylacetonitriles with glyoxylic acid to provide novel intermediate 3-aryl-3-cyanopropeneoates which may be converted to the arylmaleic acid and arylmaleic anhydride derivatives.